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Saturday, June 14, 2014

The Only Antidote to Worry

Have you been feeling overwhelmed with worry? With the end of another school year, schedules can get hectic and it's easy to feel overloaded. Whether you're concerned about getting everything done, or you're wrestling with something greater, we need to be reminded of the sanctuary we have in Christ.

Scripture reminds us, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (I Peter 5:6-7). What do your anxieties consist of? Maybe you are pregnant and facing complications. Maybe you or a family member has recently lost a job or is going through a job transition. Maybe your child has had a health scare, and you've come face to face with the limitations of your control. Whatever it may be, God knows the burden you've been carrying.

Jesus did not preach platitudes in a vacuum. He knew firsthand the brokenness and struggle in our world, and he extended an invitation of comfort and peace in the midst of it. It is not that we will never have a reason to worry. No. We will have reason to worry, but that's when we need to cling to the sovereign hand of God.

We worship a God who can order every aspect of our life for good - even the mistakes, even the mishaps, even the sin. That means that even in the worse case scenario of whatever burden you've been carrying, God already has you covered. Further, Christ's resurrection promises us that hope is always possible - no matter what the circumstances - with God.

As Christians, there is always a silver lining. Christ told his disciples, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). In other words, we shouldn't analyze our problems, but petition our God. Christ is the gateway to perfect peace. When we approach him in humility, we will experience the only true antidote to worry: trust in God.

I am quite fond of the daily devotional by Sarah Young entitled Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence. Recently, I read a devotion on worry that I wanted to share with you, for she echoes this truth. She writes as if Jesus is speaking to you:

I am all around you, like a cocoon of Light. My Presence with you is a promise, independent of your awareness of Me. Many things can block this awareness, but the major culprit is worry. My children tend to accept worry as an inescapable fact of life. However, worry is a form of unbelief; it is an anathema to Me.Who is in charge of your life? If it is you, then you have good reason to worry. But since I am in charge, worry is both unnecessary and counterproductive. When you start to feel anxious about something, relinquish the situation to Me. Back off a bit, redirecting your focus to Me. I will either take care of the problem Myself or show you how to handle it.In this world you will have problems, but you need not lose sight of Me.

Young's use of cocoon imagery is powerful. There is no doubt that a cocoon is delicate and indicates a time of trial through life-altering change. But it is also a place of comfort and safety for new life to begin. As we bring our worry to God, may he hold you in the cocoon of his peace, so that you might see the situation through together and later marvel at his grace. Trust him - it's worth it.